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How the Eight Myers-Briggs Types Manage Their Free Time

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As we gather information, make decisions, and deal with others in matters connected with our leisure, the personality types manage time in very different ways. This is probably the most obvious difference in the types. Extraverts manage their time so they can be in contact with others. Sensors are on a never-ending search for more information about possibilities, while Intuitives operate on less external data and make decisions about their free time based on their own hunches. Thinkers are logical and cool about their how to spend their leisure, focusing on their own goals more than those of others. Feelers depend upon the pleasure of others as well as themselves. Judgers look at the measurable aspects of free time, such as how many miles they have traveled in a day, while Perceivers focus on the enjoyable aspects of the trip.

Extraverts vs. Introverts

Extraverts like to spend their free time on external pastimes—that is, shopping, talking on the phone, attending parties, and so on. They enjoy activities that provide them with a lot of stimulation. On the other hand, Introverts gravitate toward activities such as reading, going for walks, and listening to music. Their favorite pastimes can generally be enjoyed in solitude and are more contemplative. While both types might enjoy attending concerts, their tastes run a little differently. The Extravert likes concerts that invite audience participation and excitement. The Introvert wants to sit quietly and take in the music.

Sensors vs. Intuitives


Sensors are literal in their interpretation of time and how they would use it. They talk in terms of minutes and hours, not weeks and months. Years may be defined as fiscal and calendar years rather than decades. They are not futuristic. They think of time as ticking away. On the other hand, Intuitives use more abstract words in their conception of time: fleeting, linear, flowing, internal, abstract, etc. The sensor is likely to think of free time as immediate pleasure to be enjoyed in the here and now. Intuitives think more in “far off” terms, such as next year’s winter vacation. When asked what they’d like to do for fun, the Sensor might answer, “Throw a party this weekend,” while the Intuitive might say, “Plan a ski trip to Aspen this winter.”

Thinkers vs. Feelers


Thinkers are more objective and literal in their use of time. Whatever activities they choose, they prefer having specific checkpoints to monitor their success or progress. The word “people” seldom appears on their list because they are concerned with their own satisfaction primarily, not the attitudes of others. For the Feeling person, the ideal ski trip might mean involve Aspen with several friends, taking ski lessons together, and finding mutual satisfaction in the trip. The Thinker might envision more solo activities on the ski trip. If ski lessons are on the agenda, they’re likely to be solo lessons with only the Thinker and the ski instructor present.

Judgers vs. Perceivers


Judgers will organize their time in objective activities and use their list for measurable accomplishments. Perceivers are more open-ended and prefer to spend their free time in activities for which they will be less accountable. If a Judging/Perceiving couple are looking for a cruise to take, the Judger will first go online for pricing, and then systematically visit websites showing cruises that match their budget. The Perceiver will prefer to “wing it,” visiting different websites on impulse. He or she will look at photographs and take pleasure in imagining what the real thing is like. The challenge is for the partners to meet on middle ground where they can make a decision that satisfies them both. The Judger will probably want to make a decision on the first or second day of looking at websites. The Perceiver would be satisfied to look for a longer, open period—enjoying all the options without closure on any single one.

Tips for Time Management


The experts have some time management tips for each of the eight types.

Extraverts: Avoid having to share everything. Extraverts can be so distracted by outside social interactions that they lose sight of their goals.

Introverts: Don’t stay inside. Introverts should sense when the time is ripe to emerge from their privacy and seek support and guidance from outside sources.

Sensors: Remember that there’s more to time than minutes. Sensors need to see beyond the exactness of time. They can be nitpickers when it comes to deadlines and time, to the detriment of a plan or project when flexibility is appropriate, such as sailing.

Intuitives: Be realistic. Most Intuitive have an unrealistic perception of how long it will take to perform certain task, usually on the side of underestimation. This is where the Intuitive could profitably borrow from the Sensors perception of time.

Thinkers: Consider others’ time. Thinkers tend to overlook the human, subjective elements of time, forcing others to conform to their needs. They should learn to consider the schedules of other participants in a plan or project.

Feelers: Define your boundaries. Because Feelers often put the needs of others before their own, they can be imposed upon easily. Whoever is most needy gets their attention and time. Feelers must learn to say no without feeling guilty.

Judgers: Keep in mind that time is not always of the essence. Although Judgers are often masters of time management, making the most of every minute, they are sometimes in danger of executing their decisions prematurely just to reach a decision. Going too fast can sometimes endanger the outcome of a plan or project.

Perceivers: Try to focus. Perceivers often jump from one project to another, failing to focus on any single one. They may even see this as a form of time management, not realizing that some of the projects may be left unfinished.

Time is a resource that can be used or abused. By making optimal use of Myers-Briggs traits, individuals can make the best of their time, finishing projects in a timely manner while maintaining the good will of collaborators—or enjoying the progress of a project without focusing on measurable checkpoints.

 

Procrastination: An Equal Opportunity Trait

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A key element of time management relates to procrastination—putting off until tomorrow the things you could do today. Everyone procrastinates. Sometimes we get the impression that it’s the Perceivers who are most guilty—with their laid-back, flexible approach to life and their tendency to be late for deadlines, etc. Not so. There are ways and times when all types put off tasks.

The Eight Types

Extraverts

Extraverts procrastinate when something needs to be done that requires privacy and time for reflection. An extraverted student may find it difficult to study a sociology assignment, which requires thoughtful perusal of the course text and time alone to study. They may also put off preparation of documents that require careful thought. They’d rather meet friends and postpone the assignment.

Introverts

Since Introverts dislike group activities—particularly speaking before a group—they’ll do what they can to get out of it or put it off to the last possible minute. This is true of participation in group activities, too. They favor the company of only one or two friends and are reluctant to sign up for groups.

Intuitives

Intuitives put off tasks that require their Sensing trait. Sitting down to collect data and then assembling it in a report is the last thing they want to do. Yearly taxes are a good example. Sensing types dig in long before April 15, almost with pleasure. Intuitives dread the day they have to unravel all their expenses of the previous year.

Sensors

When it’s time to think about the future, Sensors don’t indulge in fantasies about what “might be.” They are not at their best when it comes to long-term planning. They are here-and-now people. If a partner wants to reflect on all the possibilities for a winter vacation, the Sensor feels at a disadvantage. He or she would rather talk about their plans for the weekend.

Thinkers

Thinkers procrastinate when it comes to expressing themselves about personal issues. They’re slow to say, “I’m sorry,” even when they know they’ve hurt someone and are in the wrong. It’s much harder for a Thinker to say “I love you,” than it is for a Feeler. Many of them think that being “touchy-feely” is a sign of weakness, and that it’s better to be logical and neutral about everything.

Feelers

Feelers are reluctant to get engrossed in tasks where there’s no one else to talk to or get feedback from. They also dislike conflict and will avoid or postpone it whenever possible. They want to be involved with people in positive ways, where everyone ends up with good feelings. Negative confrontations are extremely distasteful to them.

Perceivers

When a deadline looms or a decision must be made, Perceivers put off final actions as long as possible. In their opinion, there’s always more information to be collected and examined. Perceivers are often tardy for appointments. They avoid being stressed by clock time. Their attention wanders to other things and, as a result, they’re late.

Judgers

When it comes time for fun and relaxation, Judgers procrastinate because they can always think of things that should be done before indulging in pleasure. Because Judgers may have an endless to-do list, many never get around to the reward of having fun alone or with others.

Solutions to Procrastination

Extraverts need to discipline themselves so they don’t routinely seek feedback about whatever has occurred to them. One way to do this is to schedule “work alone” periods, interspersed with scheduled breaks.

Introverts need to discipline themselves to do just the opposite—get outside their private sphere when it would be objectively useful. Even going to a public place like the library can be a challenge for the Introvert who prefers the solitude of his or her study.

Intuitives, with their future-oriented perspective, may come up short when it comes to estimating the amount of time needed to accomplish something in a given amount of time. If they are building a sandbox for a child’s birthday, for example, they may run into construction hang-ups that mean the job can’t be done on schedule. This needn’t be a cause for self-criticism. It’s simply one of those things that happen in life for no foreseeable reason.

Sensors need to see beyond clock time when they know that foresight or flexibility is needed. They tend to do well with minutes and seconds but fall short when a vision of the future is required. Sometimes they need to act when those around them affirm that the time is right, not when it’s on the Sensor’s schedule.

Thinkers have a tendency to set schedules or follow time lines that are compatible with their own needs, without considering the needs of others. Offending people is one problem with the Thinkers’ practice of basing decisions on objective outcomes rather than considering the impact on others.

Feelers must learn to say “no” without feeling guilty. They sometimes have trouble setting firm boundaries for themselves—instead focusing on the impact of their decisions on others. While Thinkers more readily impose themselves on others, Feelers more easily take on the responsibilities or consequences of decisions themselves, resulting in the feeling that they’re being taken advantage of.

Perceivers need to recognize their predisposition to procrastination, flitting from one project to another. Ironically, they often see this as a time-saving effort, juggling more than one project at a time. The result may be several projects left uncompleted. They would do better to limit themselves to one or two projects at a time.

Judgers naturally work well with schedules and deadlines. They risk reaching conclusions prematurely, however, resulting in a suboptimal outcome. They should be ready to listen to the ideas of their more-flexible counterparts, the Perceivers. When Judgers feel a strong need for a decision, such as buying a car, they’ll do well to listen to a Perceiver’s feedback about the details of the decision. They may uncover valuable information that they’d neglected.

Procrastination is an equal opportunity trait.

INFJ Meets Sensing Type—A Relationship Challenge

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INFJs trying to live peacefully in this world face a major challenge in their relationships with the Myers-Briggs sensing type. Unlike INFJs, sensors are not intuitive (N). They’re puzzled by people who rely on hunches rather than hard facts to steer their way through life. Sensing types believe in concrete evidence. INFJs depend on insights. They just know. For this reason, the two types often find themselves at cross-purposes.

It isn’t so difficult for INFJs to relate to their opposites on the other three Myers-Briggs scales: extraversion/introversion, thinking/feeling, and perceiving/judging. Like INFJs, extraverts need some solitude, too. It’s just that they need much less. Thinkers may be mostly logical in their approach to life, but they’re not without feeling. Perceivers are capable of adopting some judging habits when it’s to their advantage. If they antagonize enough people with their tardiness, for example, they may cultivate the habit of punctuality.

Examples

The INFJ looking for a car with a sensing partner may dread the shopping experience. He or she is prepared for a long, tiresome search. Alone, many INFJs could purchase a car in a single morning. They’d do research online the day before, figure out what automobile would be the best buy, and then go out and look for a dealer that has one.

Not sensors. They want to collect lots of information and then go out and look at lots of cars. Even when their brains are full of specs and prices, it may be hard for them to choose. However, pressuring a sensing type into a hasty decision tends to come with consequences when he or she later ponders its wisdom. (“Are you sure the sticker said 27 mpg?” “Do you think we could have gotten a better interest rate?”)

Another problem is that INFJs lose things a lot. Unlike sensing types, they have more engaging things to think about. With their minds elsewhere while checking out at the supermarket, they leave their keys at the counter. When they reach the car, they panic. If they’d taken a sensing partner shopping with them, this probably wouldn’t have happened. The sensor would see the keys on the counter, pick them up, and roll his or her eyes.

INFJs and sensors also handle social situations differently. After a party, sensing types remember who was there and what they were wearing. These details go right past the INFJ. On the way home in the car, the sensor asks, “Did you notice Fred’s orange tie? It was horrible!” The INFJ has no memory of Fred’s tie. He or she says, “Do you think Fred’s having trouble at home? His wife wasn’t there and he seemed tense.” The sensor wonders how the partner could have jumped to that conclusion from across the room.

Earth to INFJ

Sensing types are earthbound. They’re systematic, follow instructions, and collect information before making big decisions. INFJs are creative and free-wheeling. INFJs with sensing partners are in for a rough ride if they don’t respect their personality differences. Neither type is being willful or obstinate. They are simply using their tried and true methods for viewing the world.